The selection process of soldiers conducted by kohen appointed for this purpose

David and Goliath and other confrontations

Exemptions from military service

Thanks for Thanks

Sotah 40a

Modim Derabanan, literally translated as the prayer of thanks compiled by the rabbis, is familiar to every Jew who listens in the synagogue to the shaliach tzibur's repetition of the Shmoneh Esrai service. This is what the congregation recites while the shaliach tzibur is saying the Modim prayer which everyone said in the silent service.

What is the meaning of this title? It cannot mean that only this prayer was compiled by the Sages since the entire text of our prayers was compiled by them!

The answer lies in the response given by various Sages to the question of what the congregation says while the shaliach tzibur is saying Modim.

Five different texts are presented by various Talmudic rabbis, and the conclusion reached by Rabbi Papa is to combine them all into a single prayer of thanks. Hence the name Modim Derabanan.

The closing segment of this prayer demands explanation: "For the fact that we thank You may You be blessed, the L-rd to Whom thanks are due."

Rashi's explanation is that we thus thank G-d "for instilling in our hearts the desire to cling to You and to thank You."

It seems from this that the ability to express gratitude is also a gift from G-d, especially since people generally take almost everything they enjoy for granted. We are therefore reminded daily to say thanks for the ability to say the thanks that needs to be said.

What the Sages Say

"Said the Holy One, Blessed be He, to Israel: 'Even if you only fulfilled the mitzvah of reciting the Shma morning and evening you will not be delivered into the hands of your enemies.'"

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